By: Audrey Raymonda John
Elow Kpai a Civil servant made her first appearance before Magistrate Peter Brima Gogra on a private criminal sermons on five count charges to wit Obtaining credit under false pretences, contrary to section 13 (1) of the Debtors Act,1869, Obtaining credit by fraud other than false pretences contrary to section 13 (1) of the Debtors Act 1869, Fraudulently conversion of property, contrary to the 20 (1) (iv) (a) of the Larceny Act 1916, Larceny by trick contrary to section 1 (2) (i) (a) of the Larceny Act 1916 and Larceny from person, contrary to section 14 of the Larceny Act 1916.
According to the particulars of offence on count one and two on 2nd day of June, 2022 in Freetown incurring a debt or liability to Musa Kemoh Fofanah herein obtained credit to the amount of twelve million and eight hundred thousand Leones under false pretences; on count three at the same place and date the accused person Fraudulently converted to her own use or benefit certain property that is to say Body splashes at value of eleven million two hundred thousand Leones(11,200,000), seventeen mouth washes eight hundred and fifty thousand Leones(850,000) fifteen Colgate pastes at the cost of seven hundred and fifty thousand Leones(750,000) being the total value of twelve million eight hundred thousand Leones(12,800,000); on count four to five on the said date and place the accused person stole the said properties.
The charges were read and explained to the accused person but no plea was taken.
Counsel representing the accused person C. Campbell applied for bail for and on behalf of the accused person that she is a Sierra Leonean resident within this jurisdiction that she has credible sureties who are willing and ready to go into recognizance on her behalf she will not interfere with prosecution witness or witnesses he made his application pursuant to section 79 2 of the Criminal procedure Act No.32 of 1965.
Main while, Magistrate Gogra granted the accused person bail in the sum of twenty million Leones with two sureties in like sum sureties to be resident in the western area sureties to produce valid identity card depicting his or her addresses in Freetown one surety to be employed bail to be approved by the Bench matter. Matter was adjourned to the 23rd January 2023 for further hearing, while C.A Kamara and A.R Kargbo representing the complainant.